Connect Globally

As a justice-seeking church, the United Church works to transform individual lives, communities, institutions, and societies to address the roots of injustice. "See, taste, and touch" experiences like an education and exposure visit can be powerfully transformational for individuals and communities.

During an exposure visit, global partners share the work and witness of their local faith communities. They expose us to the realities of life in the global South. They challenge us to speak out for justice in our own communities and nation.

What’s It Like?

Participants in mission and exposure trips have described their experiences as follows:

• "The trip will definitely have a long-term impact on my life."
• "It definitely has opened my mind to a lot of the issues."
• "My experiences catalyzed a paradigm shift in my way of thinking."
• "[Since the trip]…I have felt empowered to work for change for vulnerable populations."

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What Are the First Steps?

Begin the planning and discernment process!

• Establish a planning committee to begin thinking, dreaming about, and exploring the learning goals of the group.
• Think about which region or country might be the best place to achieve those goals.
• Ensure trip leaders and organizers have training and information on best practices by registering one or two key members of the group for the ecumenical Mission Trip Leaders training seminars held in the spring and fall in different parts of Canada. The program includes biblical, historical, and contemporary perspectives on mission travel; intercultural skill building; program discernment, planning, and development; interpersonal and health issues; and much more.
• Make sure you provide for pre-trip preparation, trip planning, and post-trip debriefing.
• Connect with other congregations, presbyteries, and Conferences who have had similar experiences.

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What Planning Resources Are Available?

Sojourning: A Leader's Guide for Short-Term Mission Travel is an excellent planning resource for these processes and is available from the UCRDstore. It describes processes for discernment, planning, travel, and continued involvement with mission hosts abroad, and the issues important to them and to congregations in Canada. It prompts questions, offers suggestions, and provides guidelines for pursuing a mission exposure experience that will enhance knowledge and understanding of our Christian faith as it is lived in different parts of the world.

When your group is ready, if you need some help connecting to United Church Mission and Service partners in the region, contact People in Partnership, General Council Office.

Reflection and integration of the overseas experience into your everyday life are just as important as the trip itself. A useful resource, “Remaining Faithful: How Do I Keep My Experience Alive?” is available through People in Partnership. You'll find other useful resources through the Canadian Churches’ Forum for Global Ministries site.

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What If We're Already Involved?

Congregations, presbyteries, and Conferences are sometimes already involved in mission-focused travel or global relationship. Whether for a first-time trip or a return visit, leadership training is available that connects your group with others across the church involved in mission trips, and also offers new information.

Share your experience with People in Partnership, General Council Office. It is helpful to us to know where people of the United Church are engaged. And we may be able to suggest ways that future trips might be enhanced by including a visit with a global partner of the United Church.

Other resources that may be useful to you can be found on the Canadian Churches’ Forum for Global Ministries site.

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Where Can We Go?

Exposure visits are currently welcomed by partners in the following countries:

• Alternative Holy Land Tours—Palestine/Israel [PDF: 2 pp/32 KB]
• China [PDF: 3 pp/55 KB]
• Cuba [PDF: 6 pp/59 KB]
• Costa Rica [PDF: 3 pp/44 KB]
• Nicaragua [PDF: 2 pp/26 KB]
• Philippines [PDF: 2 pp/26 KB]

For more information, contact People in Partnership, General Council Office.